Executive Chef Jobs in California
Executive Chef jobs in California represent one of the most active culinary job markets in the country, with demand concentrated in fine dining, hotel and resort food and beverage programs, and large-scale hospitality operations at every level from sous chef-ready candidates stepping up to seasoned culinary directors. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are the largest hiring metros, anchored by established names like Marriott, Hyatt, and Pebble Beach Resorts. The most in-demand specialties are farm-to-table cuisine, high-volume banquet and event programming, and multi-outlet resort kitchens. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 142+ Executive Chef jobs
Overview:
- Own all culinary operations, driving food quality, consistency, and BOH performance across every service period and event
- Work a full cooking schedule five days a week including nights, weekends, holidays, and high-volume events
- Develop Kitchen Managers and BOH teams through daily coaching, training, and performance feedback
- Manage food cost, labor, inventory, and full BOH financial performance
- Partner with Operations on new product rollouts, seasonal promotions, and special events
- 5 or more years of culinary leadership in a high-volume food and beverage environment
- Proven experience running banquet and event operations including large-scale catering and high-volume service
- A working culinary skill set; you are actively on the line during peak service, not directing from behind a desk
- A track record of developing Kitchen Managers and BOH teams
- Advanced financial acumen including food cost control, labor optimization, and P&L contribution
- Current ServSafe certification or ability to obtain it
- Flexible schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays
- Medical, Dental, and Vision plans to select from based on your needs
- Wellness resources to help you along your wellness journey
- 401(k) Retirement Plans
- Employee Stock Purchase Program
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Vacation, Paid Sick Leave and Holidays
- Perks! Bowling, Boomer's, and Waterpark discounts, Retail discounts, Event discounts, and more!
#LI‑DNP
Lucky Strike Entertainment offers performance-based incentives and a competitive total rewards package which includes healthcare coverage and other benefits including dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, employee stock purchase program, employee assistance program (EAP), paid vacation, paid holidays, and paid sick leave. More details regarding benefits are available here: Lucky Strike Entertainment Benefits
Overview:
- Own all culinary operations, driving food quality, consistency, and BOH performance across every service period and event
- Work a full cooking schedule five days a week including nights, weekends, holidays, and high-volume events
- Develop Kitchen Managers and BOH teams through daily coaching, training, and performance feedback
- Manage food cost, labor, inventory, and full BOH financial performance
- Partner with Operations on new product rollouts, seasonal promotions, and special events
- 5 or more years of culinary leadership in a high-volume food and beverage environment
- Proven experience running banquet and event operations including large-scale catering and high-volume service
- A working culinary skill set; you are actively on the line during peak service, not directing from behind a desk
- A track record of developing Kitchen Managers and BOH teams
- Advanced financial acumen including food cost control, labor optimization, and P&L contribution
- Current ServSafe certification or ability to obtain it
- Flexible schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays
- Medical, Dental, and Vision plans to select from based on your needs
- Wellness resources to help you along your wellness journey
- 401(k) Retirement Plans
- Employee Stock Purchase Program
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Vacation, Paid Sick Leave and Holidays
- Perks! Bowling, Boomer's, and Waterpark discounts, Retail discounts, Event discounts, and more!
#LI‑DNP
Lucky Strike Entertainment offers performance-based incentives and a competitive total rewards package which includes healthcare coverage and other benefits including dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, employee stock purchase program, employee assistance program (EAP), paid vacation, paid holidays, and paid sick leave. More details regarding benefits are available here: Lucky Strike Entertainment Benefits
See All 142+ Executive Chef Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Executive Chef JobsExecutive Chef Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Executive Chef Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Retail
- Education
- Hospitality & Tourism
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in executive chef jobs across California.
- Minimum five years of progressive kitchen leadership experience in a California culinary environment
- Proven ability to develop and cost seasonal menus aligned with California sourcing standards
- Food Handler Manager certification issued or recognized under California Health and Safety Code
- Experience managing kitchen teams in compliance with California labor and wage regulations
- Familiarity with California Department of Public Health food safety inspection requirements
- Demonstrated record of vendor relationships with California-based farms and produce suppliers
Executive Chef Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a executive chef in California?
Becoming an executive chef in California typically starts with culinary training through a program accredited by the American Culinary Federation or a California community college culinary arts department, followed by progressive kitchen experience. While California does not require a state-issued chef's license, food service managers must hold a Food Handler Manager certification recognized under California's retail food code. Most employers also expect documented experience leading a full kitchen brigade in a California-regulated food service establishment.
How much do executive chefs make in California?
Executive chefs in California earn a median of about $64,500 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $37,380 for the lowest 10% to over $101,870 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire executive chefs in California?
Employers hiring executive chefs in California right now include Bon Appétit, Sodexo, and Oakmont Senior Living, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of luxury hotel brands, independent fine dining groups, and large resort properties makes it one of the most consistent states for executive-level culinary hiring throughout the year.
Which California cities have the most executive chef jobs?
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego have the most executive chef openings in California. Los Angeles drives volume through its dense concentration of hotel groups, entertainment industry dining, and independent restaurant groups, while San Francisco's strong fine dining culture and tech-sector corporate dining programs sustain demand, and San Diego's resort corridor along Mission Bay and La Jolla generates consistent openings at the property level.
Are there remote executive chef jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Executive chef work is almost entirely on-site by nature, requiring direct kitchen oversight, daily vendor coordination, and hands-on service management. About 23% of executive chef openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions tend to involve corporate food and beverage consulting, menu development for multi-unit brands, or culinary director roles with limited in-kitchen requirements.
How can I get hired as a executive chef in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a sous chef or chef de partie role at a California hotel group or independent restaurant group and building toward an executive title from within. Large California employers like resort properties and hotel management companies often run internal promotion tracks. Earning a Food Handler Manager certification, building a documented menu portfolio, and targeting culinary director assistant roles at multi-outlet venues are the credentials that create the fastest pathway in California's competitive market.
Where can I find and apply to executive chef jobs in California?
You can find and apply to executive chef jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings from employers actively hiring. Find roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly to each one.
See All 142+ Executive Chef Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Executive Chef Jobs